Funeral Rose

Two months of preparation and we were near ready to knockdown Toxicroak in one fell swoop. Currently, I was teaching the once sickly Croagunk how to fight.

After seeing our training regiment, he decided to join us to get stronger; however, we ran into some issues. Croagunks body was an utter wreck. Malnourished, bruised, and not to mention the psychological damage. The first two were easy to fix. A diet change and two weeks of recovery and his body improved immensely.

The mental scars were not so easily fixed. Every time any of us got close, he would flinch, expecting us to hurt him. Sparring was worse, as can be expected. I had to get inventive with my teaching methods.

Inspiration came from Honedge, in fact. I saw him practicing against the air and it made me think about building a practice dummy for him. Contemplating it further, I realized it would be perfect for Croagunk. Get him used to the sensation of attacking and exercising his body. Beyond that, it was a matter of weening him off it.

Sadly, his social life was nonexistent. The only Pokemon willing to interact with him was us. Pangoro was suspicious of him and hanging out with the son of a tyrant was an awkward situation to the other Pokemon. Thus we are left to fill in the void of Croagunks interactions.

The other beings in in the bunker were not idle. They were carrying out special orders from me and when they had free time, they would be training.

Golduck was especially busy.

He was head of the weapon neutralizing team. It was a group that specifically practiced to contain the weapons. For the most part, it consisted on Psyduck with some Spritzee interspersed.

On another front, Gogoat and Pangoro have been training different offensive groups. Pangoro developed a team of heavy hitters of Snorlax and Pancham while Gogoat was working on a rudimentary cavalry. With how close the final battle was, everyone was motivated.

'Croagunk, if you are so tense all the time, your muscles will cramp.' I stated.

'I can't help I'm so useless okay. I'm trying.' He retorted back.

I smacked him on the head, 'Quit saying you're useless. If you were, why would I be training you? I made a promise to make you strong and I will.'

'Why? Why do that?'

'Because I can! Now relax a little. I have a few ideas on a fighting style for you to develop.'

'Develop?'

'Yes, but its pointless to even try if you're standing as stiff as a board.'

'I'm sorry.' I thwopped him on the head again. I am the worst person to help him get over his past trauma, but after a month of trying to get him out of his shell I was desperate to get him to listen. As contradictory as it sounds, violence seems to work best. I just pray he grows out of it instead of turning into a masochist.

'Stop saying sorry and breathe. You remember how to do that right?' I scolded. If it weren't for the results, I would have questioned the sanity of doing this. So long as I wasn't overly abusive, he responds well to it.

'Yes sir.' He grumbled before inhaling. I could see his muscles loosen up.

'Good. Now I am going to give you a few ideas that we are going to work on. Exceed my expectations and I will make that berry salad you like so much.'

'Really?' Croagunks eyes sparkled.

'Yes.'

'Thank you!' He clung to my leg. Kicking him off, I said, 'Back to work!'

'Got it.'

I watched pick up the stance I suggested. It wasn't much. Right foot forward with the left hand loosely near the chest. The right hand in front acting as a guard with the left foot as a brace in the back. I was mainly copying off of a martial arts movie, but I had a hunch that a fighting type could create a style from it. Logically, it makes some sense as other then martial arts, there was not much going for the fighting type. Thus, they must have some instincts hard wired that allows them to adapt and create new styles.

Already, I have plans to abuse this to make my own art. I digress. Currently, I wanted Croagunk to develop an elastic style of fighting. After watching how his body works, I realized how flexible and stretchy it was. Combine that with precise stabs and punches and he would be a deadly force. Let's not forget his status effect and long range attacks. When I am through with him, I plan for him to be war machine.

Ironically like his father.

Not to say the style was similar. From what I have seen, Toxicroak likes to go for quick cheap shots.

'I want you to strike the target in vital spots, heart, head, legs, armpits.'

'Why the last two?'

'Because of the arteries there. When you add venom to your strikes, places like that will spread it around the body faster. We will have to explore the biology of other Pokemon to find out if they have a similar weakness, but humanoid Pokemon should still be similar.'

'I see.'

'Good, now you want to use precise strikes and be aware of your surroundings. Last thing we need is for you to get caught off guard.'

'Yes sir.' And we spent the rest of the day training like that. It was now that I saw the prodigious talent of fighting types. Even to my untrained eye, I could tell he was adapting to the style I was describing and even improving on it. It would take years to truly master, but the time would be worth it.

'That's enough for today. Lets get something to eat. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.' It was the day of the final assault on Toxicroak.

'Hai. What will I be doing tomorrow?' Glancing at him, I see the fire in his eyes. He needs closure or he will be forever trapped in his scars.

'You're going to be under me. In these last two months, you have grown leaps and bounds, but you're not ready to face someone of Toxicroak's caliber.' He was going to say something but stopped when I raised my hand, 'I plan to help you get your vengeance; however, we have to do this smartly. No one dies tomorrow so we must be careful.'

'Hai. I understand.'

'Perfect. Now I am starving lets see what's for dinner.'

'Hai.'

..............................…

Croagunk was shadowing closely behind me. The tunnels were narrow and nebulous. If I didn't design the network, we would have lost our way ages ago.

'How much longer?' Croagunk whined. I understood his pain. The ground was hastily constructed and the home made shoes I wore didn't have any soles.

'Not long. In fact, we just arrived.' We entered into a round room with roots poking through the ceiling.

'Everyone ready?' I asked the Hodge-podge group. It mainly consisted of Skiddo, Pancham, and Spritzee.

They grunted.

'Good. Spritzee, you know what to do.'

Flying to the roof, a blue glow emanated from the packed soil. Shortly following, gravity released its hold on us as we rocketed upwards.

Rocks, dust, and trees exploded out demolishing through enemy ranks. A blue bubble expanded out giving us breathable air.

'Attack!' I called.

Caught off guard, many Roselia were killed in just these few moments. I myself took out five before they attacked back. In the distance, a metallic object floated above a disintegrating tree.

'Spritzee get on that machine stat!' I ordered. Three of the pink sprites broke off from the group. Finishing off a few more Roselia, I detected an attack from behind. Thinking fast, Croagunk swat it away with a poisoned fist.

'So it seems Toxicroak's mutant child is a traitor. I'll be sure to tear him apart once I get my revenge on you!' The wrathful Roserade declared.

He cowered behind my leg. Roserade bullied him like the rest.

'I am afraid you will have to get through me first.' I retorted back. Secretly, I passed a message to the Spritzee. Focusing back on my opponent, I realized Roserade was looking drained.

'Not been sleeping well little flower?' I taunted, 'Perhaps you should take a rest and let me take things over from here.'

'Don't pity me! Its because of you that I keep having these nightmares.' She summoned vines and whipped them towards me. Dodging and getting closer in, I forced her to melee combat. Croagunk jumped back knowing he was out of his depth here. 'I can't ever close my eyes without seeing that disgusting tree and those crazy shadows. Its all your fault!'

'You know, it's very important to get eight hours of sleep everyday.' I jabbed while sidestepping a poison jab. Hopefully, I could lead her away so there was less collateral.

'I don't care. After that day, Toxicroak has shunned me, leaving me on the side. I will get back in his graces and your head is the ticket I need.'

'I would give you my head, but I am very much attached to my neck.'

'AHHHHHHH!���

She lashed with a vine that I cut off. Pulling back, I used the blade the cut off the flower like hand. Seeing the red petals in a pool of violet blood, Roserade shrieked.

'What have you done!'

Pressing the attack, I chopped of the other limb before holding her down with the end of my spear.

'I am going to ask this once, where is Toxicroak?'

Roserade gazed into my eyes. In them, she saw the storm of my aura. She was going to die and she knew it.

'I don't know.'

Snarling, I spun the spear and slashed her throat. Violet blood pored from the wound, her dying eyes and the shrill squeak the only sign of the Pokemon behind me.

Spinning around, Toxicroak himself stood in the blast sight; holding Croagunk in a headlock.

'You have been causing me a lot of grief little boy. I think its time to end that now along with my back stabbing kin as well.' His aura was putrid and dripping malice.

'Its over Toxicroak. Give up.'

'Now why would you assume that?' A rumbling answered his question. Earth and rocks swirled in a vortex encapsulating the entirety of the weapon.

'We found a little weakness in your weapons and boy do we plan to exploit it.'

The toad sneered, 'Means nothing, I have nine more around the mountain. You merely slowed down the process.'

'Which is why I have teams already disposing of them.'

His ugly mug turned darker. 'I see, so its my progeny's fault.'

Raising his arm, he slashed across Croagunks face. 'Nooooo!' I shouted. I jumped in and tried to bash in Toxicroaks skull.

'Touchy, touchy. This is what I do to those that betray me.'

'He's your son!'

'He's a mutant. I should have killed him years ago.'

I seethed at his words. Going in for another strike, Toxicroak threw Croagunk at my blade. Barely pulling back, I grab the little frog and leaped out of harms way.

'Get on my back.' I whispered to the bleeding Pokemon.

Shifting him around, I was glad to know that he still lived and breathed.

'Why do you protect him? He is a worthless sack of flesh and a freak.' Toxicroak went for a stab with his stingers.

'Because he is my friend.' I countered hitting the red claws away.

'He is a burden.' His attacks became frenzied and ferocious. I was barely defending.

'He is strong.'

'Don't make me laugh. He couldn't even stop me from capturing him.'

'Doesn't matter. He can be a fighter, he can be a strong, he can be a clown for all I care, but he is my family and I won't let you hurt him anymore.' Hot droplets fell onto my back.

'It will be okay.' I whispered to the crying Pokemon.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon in any shape or form.